Abdominal belt



G. BURNS ABDOMINAL BELT April 8, 1930.

Filed July 21 1928 IINVENTOR ATTORNEY V Patented Apr. 8, 1930 PATENT OFFICE GERTRUDE BURNS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ABDOMINAL BELT Application filed July 21, 1928. Serial No. 294,490.

This invention relates to abdominal belts and has for its object to provide a simple and economical device which may be worn with comfort and may be detachably connected 5 to the inner edge of an outer-garment, such as a skirt or trousers, to confine and support the abdomen, as well as to support such outer garment about the waist of the wearer.

The invention provides a one-piece belt preferably composed of a narrow band of light-weight elastic material adapted to encircle the body in the region of the abdomen. In the preferred construction the belt is provided with a plurality of busks arranged in pairs with their upper ends spaced apart and their lower ends close together. A plurality of fasteners, such as button-holes, are disposed about the upper edge of the belt inthe space between the busks, and are adapted to engage cooperating fasteners, such as buttons, disposed about the inner edge of a pair of trousers or other outer garment.

The belt is easily applied by fastening the ends together at the front, performs the dou- .25 ble function of confining the abdomen and supporting the outer garment snugly about the waist of the wearer, and may be entirely disconnected and removed by itself or quickly withdrawn along with the outer garment. An important advantage of the invention is that it does away with all heavy straps and harness heretofore thought necessary in belts of this type. The novel arrangement of the busks and fastening means serves to distriba modified form of belt in actual use;

Fig. 3 is a side view thereof; and Fig. 4; is a top view showing the belt as worn, fastened to the inner edge of the trousers. In Fig. 1 the belt is shown spread out, consisting preferably of a narrow band of lightweight elastic fabric 1 having its upper edge substantially straight and its lower edge increasing in width toward the outer ends to conform generally to the 'contourof the abdomen. The end sections 2 and 3, and the central section 4:, may consist of inelastic fabric, as shown. Some or all of these inelastic sections preferably taper from top to bottom, being widest at the top, so that the intermediate elastic sections 1 will normally stretch more at the bottom than the top. A vertical row of button-holes 5 adjacent the edge of the end section 2 co-operate with a corresponding row of buttons 6 on the end section 3 to fasten the belt firmly about the body of the wearer.

A plurality of transverse busks or bones 8 are arranged in pairs and are stitched or otherwise fastened to the belt with the upper ends of each pair of busks spaced apart and the lower ends close together, preferably touching each other as shown. One or both of the busks of each pair slope outwardly, depending upon their position in the belt, in order to give the maximum supporting effect and at the same time avoid bearing directly upon the hip bones orspine. In Fig. 1 the busks in the side portions intermediate the ends and center of the belt are stitched directly to the elastic material and enclosed by the arms of V-shaped strips of leather or other material, as shown. Fastening means such as button-holes 9 are arranged about the upper edge .of the belt in the space between the upper ends of the pairs of busks. In Fig. 1 I

the button-holes 9 may be formed in small strips of material which are sewed to the upper edge of the belt. 5 In Figs. 2 and 3 the busks intermediate the ends and center of the belt are enclosed in transverse relatively inelastic sections 7 which are stitched directly over the elastic material, and the buttonholes 9 formed in the sections 7 The belt passes around the body and is fastened at the front as described above. In

this position the belt confines and supports the abdomen in its correct form, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, without the slightest discomfort to the wearer. The outer garment, such as the trousers 10 provided with the usual inner row of buttons 11, is drawn over the body and the buttons 11 fastened in buttonholes 9 of the belt. An additional button-hole 12 in the end section 2 of the belt receives the button usually provided on the flap 13 of the trousers. The belt thus supports the trousers, and may be drawn off along with the trousers by simply unfastening the vertical row of buttons 6. The novel arrangement of the busks 8 cause the weight of the trousers and the strains incident to walking, bending, etc., to be distributed evenly over the belt, and prevents distortion of the button-holes and the material between the busks. V

The cumulative compressing effect at the lower apices of the paired busks tends to hold the lower edge of the belt firmly against the body. The converging busks blend easily with the lines of the body in any position, whereas ordinary vertical busks dig into the groin when the wearer is seated. The diagonal arrangement ofbusks also makes it possible to employ longer busks than heretofore with resulting increased support for the same width of belt. This belt has advantages as a special trouser waistband, holding the trousers in place without suspenders or outer belt, the elastic fabric in contact with the shirt of the wearer at the same time exerting a gripping action which tends to hold the shirt down.

The invention claimed is: l

1. A belt composed at least partly-of elastic material adapted to encircle the body of the wearer in the region of the abdomen and having a plurality of transverse busks arranged in pairs with their upper ends spaced apart and their lower ends close together, and fastening means between the upper ends of said pairs of busks to engage cooperating fastening means on another garment.

2. A belt comprising a band adapated to encircle the lower bod of the wearer, comprising front and bac sections of inelastlc material having reater total width at the top than at the ottom, intermediate side elastic sections between said inelastic front and back sections, said inelastic sections being stiffened to lie flat, and transverse stiffening busks located in the side elastic port-ions of the belt, said busks bein arranged in V- relation inclined in the irection of the groins.

3. A belt comprising a narrow band of elastic material adapted to encircle the body of the wearer in the region of the abdomen and shaped to conform generally to the contour thereof, means for fastening the ends of the band together at the front, a plurality of transverse busks arranged in pairs with their upper ends spaced apart and their lower ends close together, strips of relatively inelastic material joining the busks of each pair, and

and confine the abdomen, means for fastening the ends of the band together at the front, a plurality of transverse relatively inelastic sections each including a pair of busks having their upper ends spaced slightly apart and their lower ends close together, and a plurality of button-holes disposed about the upper edge of said band in the space between each pair of busks for engagement with but tons disposed about the inner edge of an outer garment such as a pair of trousers.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 18th day of July, A. D. 1928.

- GERTRUDE BURNS. 

